U.S. non-profit group releases book of illustrations of life in Ukraine (07/21/02)

U.S. non-profit group releases book of illustrations of life in Ukraine

STAMFORD, Conn. - Marking an unprecedented achievement, a new book of drawings and observations of Volodymyr Shagala (1919-2001) lovingly evokes the simplicities - and complexities - of everyday village life in the Starosambriskyi region of western Ukraine.

"Shagala: Stories and Illustrations of Village Life in Western Ukraine," edited and published by the CIME Endeavor Group, chronicles the traditional life of the past century, from spring planting to summer festivals to autumn harvest to winter activities such as skiing and sledding.

In a simple, realistic style, Shagala brings to life not only the stately pageantry of daily life but also the striking physical environment of western Ukraine - the mountains, lakes and forests of the region, as well as the unique architecture - from unpretentious water mills to gloriously resplendent churches. For more than eight decades Shagala lived in this region, spending his entire life in just two villages. He deeply loved the land and its people, and this devotion comes through in his more than 400 pen-and-ink drawings and his personal observations about the subjects of his drawings.

"Shagala was a marvelously talented man," according to Barbara B. Shriver, editor of this book and director of art and culture at the CIME Endeavor Group. "He and his family firmly believed that he was placed here on earth for the sole purpose of recording Ukrainian life. His insights, both drawn and written, are penetrating; they do so much more than simply represent a scene or an activity. They delve deep into the heart and evoke the very element of a subject - and then transmit an essence that is lasting and meaningful."

"Our main purposes in publishing this book," added Richard H. Shriver, chairman of CIME, "are firstly to share with the world the beauty of Shagala's work, but secondly, and importantly, to show what life is truly like in Ukraine. Much of the world is relatively unfamiliar with this beautiful land and its industrious people; we wanted to show what Ukraine is really like - and that it is essentially similar in its traditions and values to virtually every other country in the world. We hope this book will act as a bridge of knowledge between Ukraine and the rest of the world."

In his foreword to the book, Carlos Pascual, U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, writes: "There lies within the Ukrainian spirit not only determination and strength of character, but a healthy respect for tradition and an appreciation for simple pleasures found in nature and in the daily routines of family life. ... Shagala has given us a chance to glimpse this life and to understand how this history continues to shape Ukraine's present."

Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur praises Shagala's work as "a treasure chest. ... [that] vividly reveals the story of life in part of the world hidden from public view for over a century."

On a similar note, Colorado Rep. Bob Schaffer adds that Shagala is an "exceedingly personal example of how Ukrainians have endured, and how they will prosper into the future."

The simple beauties of this book appear throughout, on the one hand as deeply personal observations of one man and on the other as elemental truths that all people have experienced.

In a drawing titled "Devil's Next," for instance, Shagala portrays himself as a boy peering fearfully into a thicket where a wispy demon seems to hide. He writes: "Villagers believe that the devil sits in bushes of wild elder. They were afraid of making the devil angry and never cut elder bushes. I remember that being a small boy I thought the devil was looking out at me from the bushes."

In another drawing, "On the Bridge," a child near a village stands on a bridge and stares, transfixed, at the water flowing below. "Children liked to stand on a bridge and watch the water flowing," Shagala observes, "especially when it had rained. ... It seemed like they moved and not the water." This, indeed, is an experience that every daydreaming child looking at flowing water has had.

"Shagala: Stories and illustrations of Village Life in Western Ukraine" is a beguiling book that reveals what traditional life was like in a rural region of Ukraine - but also evokes the universal realities of life in all corners of the globe. The book is available for $50 retail, $25 wholesale by contacting Richard and Barbara Shriver at [email protected].

Mr. Shriver, a prominent businessman and entrepreneur, who served in the Treasury and Defense departments, founded a non-profit to promote free enterprise and democracy in the former Soviet Union. CIME Endeavor Group (CEG), which Mr. Shriver chairs, is a U.S. non-profit organization established before the fall of the Soviet Union to promote democracy and free enterprise there. For the past seven years, he and his wife, Barbara, have lived in Ukraine, where he managed CEG's operations.

Mr. Shriver recently rejoined the International Executive Service Corps (IESC) as executive vice-president. As one of the world's largest volunteer-based, non-profit organizations engaged in economic development, IESC helps developing countries and new emerging democracies to accelerate the growth of free-market enterprise and establish civil societies and the rule of law. Headquartered in Stamford, Conn., IESC has operations in almost 60 developing countries and emerging democracies.

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